Super Bowl LIX key match-ups: Where the game could be won in Chiefs vs Eagles

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The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will each have 48 players active for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, but the destiny of the Vince Lombardi Trophy could depend to a large extent on just a few key match-ups. 

In this article, we take a look at the crucial battles between individual players and position groups of both teams that could prove pivotal in deciding the contest.

1 Saquon Barkley vs Kansas City run defence

Running back Saquon Barkley has been one of the best free-agent signings of all-time for the Philadelphia Eagles this season. The New York Giants' loss has been a monstrous gain for their NFC East rivals as the former first-round pick ran for 2,005 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in the regular season.

Barkley has continued to prosper in the playoffs, with 119 rushing yards against the Packers, 205 and two TDs against the Rams and 118 and three more TDs against the Commanders.

Rushing defence was a strength of the Chiefs in the regular season, when they ranked eighth in the league with an average of 101.8 rushing yards allowed per game, but they have not been as solid in playoffs, giving up 149 rush yards to the Texans and 147 to the Bills, and they will need to raise their game to contain the rampant Barkley. 

2 Trent McDuffie vs AJ Brown

Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie is aiming to win his third Super Bowl at the age of just 24 in New Orleans and the former first-round pick will have a key role to play. 

McDuffie's impressive play doesn't necessarily show up on the stats sheet and he has only two interceptions this season, but that's in part due to his talent as his sticky coverage of the receiver he is shadowing dissuades quarterbacks from throwing the ball in his direction.

If he shadows the Eagles' top wide receiver AJ Brown and can keep him quiet, the Chiefs will be looking good as Brown had a big game against the Commanders in the last round with 96 receiving yards after having a pair of quiet outings against the Packers and Rams.

Brown has physical advantages in this match-up, though, and it will be fascinating to see which of the star players comes out on top.

3 Chiefs offensive line vs Eagles pass-rush

When Kansas City lost the 2021 Super Bowl in a 31-9 bashing by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the writing was on the wall very early on as their threadbare offensive line were simply unable to cope with the Tampa Bay pass-rush. QB Patrick Mahomes was sacked only three times but he was intercepted twice and completed only 26 of his 49 pass attempts as he was given no time to find his receivers.

The Eagles boast one of the most fearsome defences in the league, racking up eight sacks over their last two games, and they will be looking to hit Mahomes early and often as injuries have crept in again along the Chiefs offensive line, with guard Joe Thuney having to fill in at left tackle and back-up Mike Caliendo coming in at left guard.

Linebacker Nakobe Dean's serious knee injury has robbed the Eagles of one of their defensive stars of the season but they still have more than enough talent to make life uncomfortable for Mahomes.

4 Jalen Hurts vs Chiefs defence

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has reached his second Super Bowl in just his fifth NFL season, and while he lost the first one, 38-35 to the Chiefs, he played well on that occasion with 304 passing yards, one passing touchdown, 70 rushing yards and three rushing TDs.

Hurts has not been asked to do as much as a passer in the second half of the season as he was at the start as the Eagles have relied on their rushing game. He passed for just 131 and 128 yards in the first two rounds of the playoffs and has has had only one 300-yard game all season.

If Hurts is able to become a factor in the passing game, rather than merely handing off the ball to Barkley and gaining first downs with the tush-push play, the Eagles could be in business.

5 Chiefs wide receivers vs Eagles secondary

The Eagles' pass defence was the best in the league in the regular season with only 174.2 yards per game allowed, but they have let their standards slip a little in the playoffs with an average of 245.7 yards allowed in their three games.

They will need to get back to their best against a varied Chiefs offence that is now feeling the benefits of recruiting to compensate for early-season injuries at wide receiver.

Juju Smith-Schuster, DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy are all valuable option for Mahomes alongside tight end Travis Kelce, and they will test the Eagles' rookie cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, as well as star veteran Darius Slay.

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Read more on Super Bowl LIX . . .

Super Bowl LIX: Start time, venue, how to watch and odds 

Super Bowl LIX betting explained: How to bet on Chiefs vs Eagles 

Super Bowl LIX expert predictions for Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles 

Kansas City's Super Bowl record: How Andy Reid's Chiefs have dominated the NFL 

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